County



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. M. JERVIS.

FRUIT BVAPORATOR.

Patented June 10, 1884.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsFSheet 2. A. M. J ERVIS.

FRUIT EVAPOR ATOR.

No. 299,986. Patented June 10, 1884.

M nn an. m

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER M. JERVIS, OF JONESBOROUGH, ASSIGNOR OF TWVO-THIRDS TO ROBERT H.DUNGAN', MADISONJ'J. PEOPLES, AND LANDON O. PEO- PLES, ALL OF WASHINGTONGOUN TY, TENNESSEE.

FRUlT-EVAPO RATo R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,986, dated June 10,1884.

Application filed September 13, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABN R 1\I..JERVIS, of J onesborough, in the countyof Washington and State of Tennessee, have invented certain 5 ne *anduseful Improvements in Fruit-Evaporators, and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use IO the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in frult-evaporators, the. objectof the same being to provide improved means whereby the ca,- pacity ofthe kiln is greatly increased without 1 5 v a proportionate increase inthe first cost thereof. A further object is to provide an improveddrying-kiln that will combine simplicity and economy in constructionwith dura bility and efficiency in use; and with these ends in view myinvention consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will bemore fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective showingthe manner of arranging the trays. Fig. 2 is a view in verticaltransverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinalvertical section. Fig. 4 is a View in perspective of one of the trays inopen adjustment, and Fig. 5 is a similar ,view of the tray locked.

A represents a furnace or heater of any desired construction, the upperplate,B, of which forms the bottom of the drying-kiln. This 3 5 heateris provided with suitable dampers, doors, and smoke-exit flue, and theupper plate, B, thereof is perforated at its four corners, and atintermediate points, if necessary, for the attachment of the uprightstandards C. These standards are preferably made of metal, and the lowerends thereof are reduced in size to enable them to be introduced intothe perforations a of the plate B, and the upper ends are provided witha series of perfo- 5 rations, b, arranged one above the other, for theattachment of the transverse rods D, which latter, besides assisting inholding the standards in position, also form supports for thelongitudinal rods E, on which the trays are suspended. The rods D aresufficiently high to enable the trays to swing clear of the plate B, andare vertically adjustable for the purpose of enabling the trays to beelevated or lowered, as circumstances demand. In the present instance Ihave shown three pairs of standards 0, each pair being connectedtogether by a transverse rod D; but the number of standards and rods isdependent entirely on the size and capacity of the kiln.

The ends or end walls, F, of the kiln, which are preferably made ofsheet metal, are rigidly secured to the end standards, 0, while the sidewalls are formed by the doors G, hinged to the end walls. As thestandards are removably secured to the heater, it follows that by simplyremoving the roof or cover and standards the walls of the kiln are alsoremoved, leaving the heater, which latter can be used for numerouspurposes. This construction enables me to take the kiln apart and packit in asmall compass when not desired for use, and also enables it to beconveniently transported when necessary.

The longitudinal rods E are supported on the rods D, and can, ifdesired, be provided with curved ends 0, adapted to hook over the upperedge of the end walls, for the purpose of preventing the displacement ofthe said rods E- Theserods are placed at suitable intervals apart, andare adapted to support the trays H, which latter are suspended below therods. These trays are made of perforated sheet metal, and each consistsof two leaves, at d, hinged together at one side, and a removableperforated leaf, d, adapted to be interposed between the hinged leavesand locked therein. The leaf d is provided'at opposite ends with thehooks e, by means of which the tray is suspended from the rod E, and isalso provided with one or more series of bolt or rod keepers, f. Thesebolt or rod keepers register with suitable openings in the leaves (2 d,and when the leaves are closed are adapted to project outwardlysufficiently beyond the leaf (1 for the reception of the locking-rods I.These locking-rods securely hold the leaves together and prevent thefruit which is placed between the leaves from falling out.

Fruit is first placed on either leaf d or (1- say, for instance, d-andthe leaf d then placed on the fruit. This leaf is then covered withfruit in a similar manner and the leaf (1 turn ed down thereon. Theleaves are then locked together by the rods I, and the filled tray isready to be placed within the kiln. After all the trays are filled theyare suspended on the longitudinal rods E, sufficient space, however,

being left between the trays for the passage ofthe heated air. The doorsG are then closed and locked. As these trays hang immediately over theheater, it follows that the. fruit nearer the lower ends of the trayswill be subjected to greater heat than the fruit near the upper ends ofthe trays, and consequently the moisture therein will be evaporatedbefore the moisture in the fruit near the upper ends of the trays. Afterthe lower ends of the trays have been subjected to heat for a sufficientlength of time the doors G are opened and the trays turned upside down,so as to evenly expose the fruit therein to the action of the heat. fromthe kiln, is of uniform quality and color, and is ready for immediateshipment.

By this construction of trays and the manner of arranging them withinthe kilns I am enabled to greatly increase the capacity of the kilnwithout altering its size or proportionately increasing its cost.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to construct fruit-trays of twoleaves hinged to the opposite sides of a frame having a centralperforated partition, and also that it is not broadly new to construct afruit-evaporator in which the furnace is detachable from the body of thedrying apparatus, and hence I make no broad claim to such constructions.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and relativearrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without departingfromthe spirit of my invention; and hence I would have it understoodthat I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown By thismeans the. fruit, when taken and described, but consider myself atliberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fallwithin the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described myinvention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fruit-tray for evaporators, the combination,with two hingedleaves, one of which is provided with hooks, and a leaf interposedbetween the hinged leaves, of devices for locking the leaves together,substantially as set forth.

2. In a fruit-tray for evaporators, the combination, with two perforatedleaves hinged together, hooks secured to the opposite ends of one of thesaid leaves, and a perforated leaf interposed between the hinged leaves,of devices for locking the leaves together.

3. In a fruit-tray for evaporators, the combination, withcthe perforatedleaves, one of which is provided with belt or rod keepers, of belts orrods adapted to be passed through the keepers, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a suitable heater, of the removable standardsand end walls, and doors secured to the end walls.

5. The combination, with a suitable heater, I

of standards, end walls secured to the standards, and doors secured tothe end walls.

6. The combination, with a suitable heater, an oven,and the removablestandards 0, provided at their upper ends with perforations, of

ABNER M. JERVIS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE 6001;, S. G. NOTTINGHAM.

